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Magic wand: Marzocchi Bomber Air damper
Since Fox took over the Italo label, things have been looking up again at Marzocchi. For some time, the performance weakened and the good reputation seemed to be in danger. The new Air damper is available with an angled reservoir, making it compatible with many frames. The Air should respond smoothly, even withstand Rampage use and, with its improved damping, even withstand Brage Vestavik's abuse.
Weight: 484 grammes
Price: 639 Euro >> available here
Swedish hat: Poc Otocon Race Mips helmet
It's crazy what's possible today. Full-face helmets used to be heavy, sweaty things. Today, they blow air around your head like a jet and are getting lighter and lighter. Like the new Otocon from the Swedish safety experts. The helmet, reinforced with aramid fibres and an injection-moulded cage, weighs 750 grams. The integrated MIPS system is designed to absorb rotational forces and a Recco reflector speeds up casualty searches. Intended use: Enduro to DH. Available in four colours.
Price: 330 Euro >> available here
Hero chest: TLD Rockflight flex chest protector
Science says: plastic alone doesn't work, only foam absorbs. So the Americans put English smart foam under the armour plates of their rock flying waistcoats for full protection. If only Ivenhoe had known! The hull protection is also available in black - for those who don't like it quite so flashy.
Price: 150 Euro >> available here
Adhesive: First Degree Flite bike shoes
The dudes from Austria used to design snowboard boots and bindings. The best
prerequisite for developing a stylish, functional biker shoe. Voilà, here it is: the Flite for trail to DH. For hardcore moshing, there's the very robust F1. We've got the Flite in the wringer right now and so far we're very impressed.
Price: 125 Euro >>available here
Problem solver: Mini-Tool Pro Performance 22F
Gravity superstar Gee Atherton works with PRO. We don't know whether he has the 22F in his pocket, but it's probably the case. The slim thing has all the tools you need for a quick pit stop on the go. The tools are specially hardened to keep them nice and sharp.
Price: 50 Euro
Shot down: Drake Black Velvet bow
Bike park shaper Diddie Schneider shoots bows like a Japanese samurai. Because that helps when your head rebels in everyday life, your eyes flicker from supertasking, your soul stumbles and wobbles. Archery is sport and meditation in one. Give it a try. Starter sets are available cheaply. Or hire them, e.g. from Diddie am Geißkopf.
Price: 209 Euro
Suspended: Rockshox suspension forks
A topsy-turvy world. Normally the packaging changes, inside: same old, same old. With Rockshox it's the other way round. The suspension specialists from the USA gutted their forks and reinvented everything. For example: the Charger 3 cartridge with independent low and high-speed damping. Or the newly invented butter cups. These are buffer elements to calm high-frequency vibrations. Now available in the Pike, Lyrik and Zeb forks. Further information at Rockshox
Attached: Abus Airdrop helmet
In 1924, August Bremicke would never have dreamed that the Airdrop would be launched under his name in 2022. Back then, August and his sons (who rarely did what their father wanted) forged the first padlock in their cellar at home in Volmarstein. The Airdrop should be as secure as August's locks, light (790 g) and much better ventilated.
Price: from 300 euros >> available here
Packed: TLD Meridian travel bag
A travelling bag? No, this is no ordinary travelling bag. Q could have developed this item if he were a James Bond downhiller. Special compartments for goggles, helmets, protectors, a waterproof mat for changing clothes, a tool compartment and one for your stinky socks and grubby gloves. Tailored from robust fabric, padded and equipped with super-fast wheels so that the travelling bag pilot can make it to the gate in record time.
Volume: 165 litres
Price: 269 Euro
On top: SQlab 50X pedals
Tough plastic fibre instead of aluminium, concave, outward-rotating pedal surface, ergonomic stance, axle length depending on shoe size, eleven interchangeable pins, heavy-duty bearings. That all sounds good! We are currently testing.
Weight: 429 grams.
Price: 80 Euro >> available here
Rolled off: Mavic Deemax 29 wheels
For many years, the Deemax was the epitome of a gravity wheelset and Mavic was the perfect example of a family business. Brothers Charles and Lucien had been supplying cyclists with spare parts since 1889 until their company was bought out by US investors in 2019 and had to file for bankruptcy a year later. Now two other French brothers have bought back Mavic and want to continue the traditional story. Including the Deemax. Now in 29 inches, wide (28 mm), even more stable and faster.
Weight: 2110 grammes
Price: 650 Euro >> available here
Mesh cover: Lazer Cage helmet
Airy and light? "We can", claim the helmet pioneers from Belgium. Lazer has been involved in head protection in cycling since 1919. The Cage is a highly ventilated enduro and DH full-face helmet with a carbon-reinforced shell and specially developed rotational damping.
Weight: 820 grams (M)
Price: 290 Euro
Shock absorber Öhlins TTX 22
In 1976, motocrosser Kenth Öhlin was fed up and decided to build his own suspension - because neither the shocks nor the forks met his requirements. The old Swede still does this today. The TTX 22 shock is fitted to the big bikes of Finn Iles and Loic Bruni. Have you seen their World Cup runs in Vallnord? Wow! The Swedish part seems to work. Setting up the TTX 22 should be child's play, the end progression optimised.
Price: 885 Euro
Nailboard: Pedals Sensus Crue
Rampage hero Cam Zink tends to use superlatives. Both with his stunts and his products. His latest baby is the Crue flat pedal. According to Zink, it is the best pedal in the world. Concave on four sides for maximum grip, titanium axle, bearings from motorsport, etc. Zink has spent three years developing his super pedal and a lifetime of experience
experience, says Zink.
Weight: 340 grammes
Price: 298 Euro
Cooling system: SQlab One OX jersey
Taped seams, laser-cut ventilation slits, flexible materials and a mesh effect that keeps the black jersey pleasantly cool even on hot summer days - the ergonomics experts at SQlab don't do things by halves. We will soon be testing whether it works exactly as advertised.
Price: 100 Euro >> available here
